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Netgear Orbi Tri-band Mesh WiFi 6 System AX6000 (RBK852) review

Priced at $1099.

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CHOICE Expert Rating

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CHOICE Expert Rating

This is the product's overall performance score, based on key tests conducted by our industry experts in the CHOICE labs.

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The product's best features and benefits

Bad points

Drawbacks or issues you need to know about
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Recommended View more details.

We recommend systems in this test that score 75% or more overall.

CHOICE Expert Rating View more details.

The CHOICE Expert Rating, the overall score that determines which products we recommend, is made up of the performance score (60%) and ease of use score (40%).

Performance score View more details.

This score is made up of speed at close range (30%) and speed at long range (20%) and speed at extended range (50%).

Ease of use score View more details.

This score is made up of initial set up (40%), extender/node set up (20%), access to settings (15%), the firmware update process (15%) and smart device installation (10%).

Privacy score View more details.

An assessment of privacy-related considerations in setting up and configuring the mesh router. This does not contribute to the CHOICE Expert Rating.

Speed from origin location (megabytes per sec) View more details.

Data throughput speed from the origin location (at the router) measured in megabytes per second (MBps). 

Speed from origin location (megabits per sec) View more details.

Data throughput speed from the origin location (at the router) measured in megabits per second (Mbps). 

Speed from extended location (megabytes per sec) View more details.

Data throughput speed from the first node of the extended mesh network, measured in megabytes per second (MBps).

Speed from extended location (megabits per sec) View more details.

Data throughput speed from the first node of the extended mesh network, measured in megabits per second (MBps).

Tester's notes
Price View more details.

Price includes all components needed to create a mesh/extended network.

$1099
Yearly running cost View more details.

Yearly running cost is power consumption calculated at 40 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) with the system on standby 24hrs/day (network activity will increase cost).

Enable 2.4GHz-only network View more details.

Is it possible to use a 2.4GHz-only network (rather than an amalgamated 2.4 and 5GHz network) in order to install IoT (internet of things) devices?

No
Maximum link speed (megabytes per sec) [2.4GHz/5GHz] View more details.

Maximum theoretical speed of the chipset in the device, measured in megabytes per second (MBps) for the 2.4GHz band and the 5GHz band.

Maximum link speed (megabits per sec) [2.4GHz/5GHz] View more details.

Maximum theoretical speed of the chipset in the device, measured in megabits per second (Mbps) for the 2.4GHz band and the 5GHz band.

Tri-band router View more details.

The main router uses three wireless bands one 2.4GHz and two 5GHz bands.

Yes
Complete Wi-Fi mesh system in a box View more details.

A complete system is provided in the box.

Router and one node (kit)
Extra products required to create mesh/extended network View more details.

If a complete system doesn't come in the box, what extra products are required to create a mesh/extended network?

No
Products we used to create mesh/extended network View more details.

What products we used to create a mesh/extended network for testing.

1 x included router and 1 x included nodes
Extra nodes can be added View more details.

Additional nodes may be added to extend the mesh network.

Yes
Seamless roaming View more details.

The mesh has a single SSID (Service Set Identifier) network name to enable seamless roaming across its various zones without manually changing networks.

Yes
Modem required View more details.

Whether a separate device is required to connect to the internet. This could be a modem (often supplied by service providers for a fee), NBN equipment, or proprietary network terminating device (NTD), among other things.

Yes
Wi-Fi standards supported (802.11 type) View more details.

The wireless 802.11 standards that the unit supports 802.11ax (or Wi-Fi 6) is the latest and fastest standard and 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) is more common. These also support (802.11n, or Wi-Fi 4) and other previous standards for compatibility with various client devices.

802.11ax
Parental controls View more details.

What types of parental controls are included for restricting unwanted content or controlling usage?

Pausing and resuming Internet access; subscription needed for Smart Parental Controls ($100 per year); Web interface includes device scheduling, keyword filtering
Country of origin
Vietnam
Highest encryption level View more details.

The level of encryption standard supported by the devices where WPA3 is the highest.

WPA3
MU-MIMO antenna technology View more details.

Whether the device has MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple input, multiple output) antenna technology to support multiple users accessing the network at the same time.

Yes
Ethernet ports View more details.

The total number of available ethernet ports for connecting wired ethernet devices. This excludes the WAN port, which is used to plug in your existing modem or modem/router.

8
Power switch View more details.

Whether the unit has a physical power switch on the device.

No
Indicators View more details.

The type of indicators on the unit and what they show.

LED
USB ports View more details.

The number of USB ports included for connecting external USB devices. USB ports may be used for physically attaching storage drives or printers for sharing on the network, but it depends on the model, so check the manual, packaging, or product website to confirm for your particular model.

0
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